Pressing pad ventilating apparatus



March 7, 1933. F. c. WILHELM FRESSING PAD VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed oct. 11, 1929 v 2 sheets-sheet 1 frm/ador /reEoC l/l//L/fE/ M @F1143 f4 www March 7, 1933. F. c. WILHELM I PRESSING PAD VENTILTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11. 1929 5 M MJ. N New. EH VU- T A QF o ma, Fm nv.,

Patented Mar. 7, 1933 *UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'FRED CARL WILHELM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, vASSIGINOB. TO THE UNIIBESS COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTAr A` CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA PRESSING PAD VENTILATING APPARATUS Appiicmon and october 11, 1929. serial No. 398.907.

l This invention relates generally to an improvement in laundry presses and particularly to means for Ventilating the pressing pad 1n a manner to prevent moisture saturation. In devices of this kind the pressing pad quickly becomes saturated with steam as the lresult of the pressing operation. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a Ventilating and moisture dissipating means in which atmospheric or equivalent circulation throughthe pad is constantly maintained. i f

Features of the invention include the provision of a Ventilating structure, along with means for performing the ventilating function, as well as the details of construction shown.

Objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the description of the drawings forming a part of this application, andin said drawings Figure 1 is an end view illustrating the application of the present invention to a laundry press;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section, corresponding to Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the action of the press,'in producing a gloss or hand-ironed finish of the goods. I

The present invention 'provides a ventilating structure for a pressing machine, in'

which by a bellows-like action obtained as the result of arrangement of the parts,`at mospheric air is forced through the pressing pad to dissipate moistureresulting fromthe pressing operation, and therefore in a manner to maintain the pad in substantially dry condition.

The numeral 1 indicates a lower stationary steam chest', numeral 2 the pad supporting cap, 3 the pad, and 4 the movable upper steam chest or pressing head. Numeral 5 indicates a 'suitable support for the lower presser head 1, and steam is introduced into the lower sion on the springs.

able intercommunicating steam circulation' passages 7 are provided so that the chest can be steam heated uniformly throughout its entire upper surface. Arranged above the chest 1 for vertical motion is a pad support 3 having perforations 8 sufficient in number and/or area to establish proper Ventilating circulation through the pad 3. The cap 2 is arranged in spaced relation to the marginal portion 9 of the lower chest.l yThe cap may be said to be related to the chest 1, as a lid to a box, Vexcept that all inner surfaces of the lid or cap are substantially always spaced from the corresponding inner surfaces of the support or chest 1, to maintain atmospheric communication with the space between the elements and through openings or'equivalent passages 8. The cap is held in spaced relation in any suitable manner' and in such manner that it may 'move toward the support 1, during thepressing operation. A specific means forv mounting the padLsupport is also claimed. along with the broader features of the combination. Y

In this instance, the lower chest 1 has the form of. a casting and includes upwardly,

^ socket and has threaded engagement as at 14 with a threaded opening 15 of the cap 2.

tance between the cap and thechest and for varying thentension on the springs, and their heads are accessibly disposed at the bottom of the chest 1. By this arrangement, the cap is capable of universal movement and moreover, means is provided for varyingthe ten- In this instance, six springs are em'ployed arranged symmetrically at opposite sides of the longitudinal and transverse centers 4as best showgn in Figures 3 and 4.

The gist of the invention .isa moisture ex- Thescrews are used for adjusting the dispulsion means adapted to maintain the pad of l. pressing machine in substantially dry condition. Another feature is the employlbetween cap and head occur to give a handironed finish to the goods. The difference is that between pressing av fiat iron directly downwardly or vertically upon goods, without horizontal motion, and that of movement of the ironI across the goods while under pressure.

The means provided for holding elements 1 and 2 in spaced relation and in comparative close proximity to one another is shown 1n Figure 2 of the drawings. The pivotal', point 20 of the arm 2l is so related to the elements 4 and 2 Ithat after engagement of element 4 with the pady 3 or goods thereon,

continued downward motion of the arm 21 causes a relative horizontal motion between elements 2 and 4 which gives the gloss finish to the goods, such as is given by a hand-ironing operation. Moreover, a leveling action is obtained which compensates for v varying thickness `of different portions of the goods being ressed.

In represent the direction of head motion re- `s ectively down and up (close and open).

e arrows D-D2, U- -U2 respectively represent the airs of reverse motions of the cap with re erence to the working face of the head and about the centers C-C'. The movement D' is downwardly and rearwardly; the movement D2 is downwardly and forwardly; the movement U is upwardly and rearwardly, and the movement U2 is upwardly and forwardly.

Referring first to Figure 5, in which the rear margins of the working surfaces of the head and cap have just engaged: On continued motion in pressing direction, the cap 2 is tipped or swung about a center, represented by the letter C (which substantially corresponds to the openingl, see Figure 2) in the direction -of the arrow D. The cap is tipped to that direction until the parts assume the position shown in Figure 6, and the cap, therefore, undergoes a rearward movement. On continued downward movement of the head and until it arrives at the position shown in Figure 7 the cap is tipped in the opposite direction about the center C', in direction of the arrow D2. This is a reverse or forward motion.

After the parts have assumed the position igures 5, 6 and 7, the arrows D-U in Figure 'I and on upward movement of the til the arts a ain -assume the osition shown in Figure 5, t e cap swings in the direction U2 about the center C. It is, therefore, seen that the cap ismoved 'first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the forward or closing movement of the press, and is also moved first yone wayI and then the other, during the opening of the press. It is during the opening movement that the gloss finish to the goods is given, because at this time the goods is dry and the reversefriction action is effective.

I believemyself the first to provide a lower stationary steam chest having a pressure equalizing cap at the top which is capable of leveling motion, and of automatically producing ad ventilation by the use of a substantial y continuous passage which circumscribes the sides of the steam chest, and which establishes constant atmospheric communication with the space between a perforate pad supporting or working wall of the cap, and the corresponding face of the chest, and wherein the ivotal point of the arm, the working surflzice of pressing head and the working surface of the cap and the top surface of the buck are, during pressing operation, in horizontal planes which are close to one another.

Thus means is provided by which the normal actionof the up er head on the cap 2 or against the goods aid upon a pad on the cap, causes ejection and suction action of air through the pad. f

The spacing is maintained between the perimeters of cap andsteam chest, as well asy between upper surface of the buck and lower surface of the cap and the vertical walls of the cap are alwaysy in opposition to the vertical walls of the buck or chest. It is to be noted that the cap perforations are so arranged as to ventilato over its entire area, and over an area substantially equal to the area of the top of the chest or buck.

Another feature of the invention relates to the arrangement, inthe atmospheric suction apparatus of this invention of the springs between the bottom of the cap and the upper portion of the buck or steam chest, and close to the pressing plane, along with the spacing which permits a rocking and wobbling motion, and which permits a -certain amount of horizontal motion of the cap, which motion does not, however, interfere with the maintenance of a constant suction communication for the purposes set forth.

In order to obtain any useful suction effects for the purposes herein atmospheric communication must be constantly mainetv x and as Ventilating-passage-forming elements.l

tained, as well as a balanced suction column. To this end, the suction column must communicate with the horizontal chamber resulting from the spaced relation of the perorated pad supporting wall of the cap and the working face of the steam chest) at all sides to obtain the properk degree of suotion, as well as a suction balance. yTo this end, the suction passage has `a circumscribing relation to the chest, and in this case substantially no obliteration' of this continuous symmetrically arranged suction passage occurs, becausev of any rocking or lateral motions of the cap about its supporting and spacing springs.

On upward motion of the head 4,' the springs act to assist in raising the element? which results in suction through the openings 8 which tendsto dry the pad 3. In other words, pad drying action results from pressing and releasing motions of the element 4, as

distinguished from the employment of extraneous devices, such as suction fans, etc.

Insofar as I am aware no one has conceived of an automatically operable ventilating apparatus in which the cap whichholds the pad is perforated yand in which the cap is related to the buck substantially as a loose lid of a box to the box, with the sides of the lid acting as stops to limit horizontal motion,

Another feature of the invention is the provision-of a stationary buck 5 which has a steam chest 7. Thelower buck is hollow and stationary, while the element 2 is movable on this stationary steam chest, resulting in a `l wiping and'polishing and hand-ironing action above described. With a stationary buck the steam pipes need noswinging joints.

I claim as my invention:l 1. A device of the class described, comprising a steam chest, ahlid-like element overlying the chest and having its top perforated, and having sides which continuously circumscribe and which are opposed to and disposed in spaced relation to the sides of the chestto form la continuous circumscribing ventilatng passage communicating with the atmosphere, and means yieldably supporting the lid-like element with its top wall in spaced rllation to the correspondng surface of the c est.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a steam chest, a lid-like element having a topY having perforations, said top overlying the chest and arranged in spaced relation to the top of the chest to form with the chest a horizontal chamber, said lid-like element having sides opposed to and spaced from the sides of the chest to form a relatively continuous circumscribing Ventilating passage which establishes atmospheric communication with said perforations through the chamber and means yieldingly supporting the lid-like element wth its top in spaced relation to the corresponding surface` of the chest, i

said yieldable means being adapted to allow light lateral motion of the cap.

3. In combination with a press having a steam chest having an upper face, a lid-like cap having a working wall overlying and spaced from the face and having a continuous I depending ange opposed to the sides of the steam chest and spaced therefrom to permit free vertical and horizontal motions, but adapted to engage the chest to limit horizontal motions of the cap, compressible elements `holdingthe cap in vertically `spaced relation above the chest, said cap having perforations establishing atmospheric communication with the space between the cap and chest and said perforations being spread over an area of the cap substantially equal to the area of the upper face of the chest, a pressing pad overlying the perforations, and a presser arm engageable with the pad to depress the cap.

4. In combination with a press having a steam chest having a working face, a perforate v lid-like cap having a working wall spaced from but close to said chest face, compressible springs holding the cap in said closely spaced relation, the sides of the lid being spaced from and opposed to the sides of the chest to form a continuous circumscribing passage, and a presser arm engageable with the cap to depress it and perform a pressing operation.

5. A pressing apparatus including a steam chest, a pad cap overlying the chest, compression springs engaging the chest and supporting the cap with its pad-supporting wall in spaced' relation above the chest, linkage means securing cap to chest and adapted to limit upward motion of the cap against the action of 'any other portion of the surfaces during foi'- ward or pressing movement of the head.

6. A pressing apparatus including a steam chest, a pad cap overlying the chest, compression springs engaging the chest and supporting the cap with its pad-supporting wall in' spaced relation above the chest, bolts rigidly attached to the cap and passing loosely through openings in the wall ofthe chest and having enlargements as stops which limit upward motion of the cap against the action of the springs, said press having a pivoted presser arm having a head engageable with the cap, the pivotal axis of the arm being so related to the head and cap that those margins of the working faces of the head and cap which extend in a direction parallel to the pivotal axis of the presser head enga before any other portion of the surfaces Y uring forward or pressing movement of the head.

7. A pressing apparatus including a steam chest, a pad cap overlying the chest-and having its pad supporting Wall normally spaced from the chest, compression s rings engagingthe chest cand supporting t e cap in said spaced'relation, bolts attached to the cap and passing loosely through a wall of the chest and having enlargements which limit upward motion of the cap against the'action of the springs, said press having a pivoted resser arm having a head engageable with t e cap the pivotal axis of the arm being so related to the head and ca that the rear mar al portions of the Worling faces of theF hea and cap engage before any other portion of `the surfaces, during movement of the head in pressing direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th dag of October, 1929.

FRE CARL WILHELM. 

